WHAT ARE DENTURES?
As we age, some of us experience tooth loss. In cases in which several or all teeth are lost, dentures are the treatment of choice. Dentures are removable appliances that are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissue of the oral cavity. Dentures, completely or partially, restore your dentition giving you an improved and more youthful appearance; they will also improve your speech, chewing abilities and self-esteem. There are two main types of dentures, complete and partial.
Complete dentures are worn by patients who are missing all of the teeth in a single arch or in both arches (maxilla and mandible). This type of denture is made of acrylic resin that holds a full set of acrylic or porcelain teeth; retention with complete dentures is achieved by the seal it forms with the gums and palate.
Partial dentures are for patients who are missing some of their teeth on either one of the two arches. Partial dentures can either be made with a plastic-like framework or a metal framework that supports acrylic teeth; retention is achieved by clasps and rests that are meticulously adapted around natural teeth. If you would like to replace missing teeth via either of these methods, ask your dentist in Lake Worth at Prestige Dental Care about which is right for you.
AM I THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?
Most patients with extensive tooth loss are candidates for dentures; however, a proper jaw bone structure and volume is needed to be able to wear them. There are two types of complete dentures depending on the dental status of the patient; they could either be conventional or immediate dentures.
Conventional Dentures are normally delivered to the patient about eight weeks to twelve weeks after all teeth are removed to allow for proper gum healing. Immediate Dentures; on the other hand, are delivered as soon as the teeth are removed. It is important to know that the drawback behind an immediate denture is that it may require several adjustments after healing has taken place. Alternatively, you can decide to have a combination of the above: a transitional denture can be delivered on the day the teeth are extracted and worn for 8-12 weeks and then a conventional denture made to uniquely fit all the healed tissues. This way you get the best of both worlds by having a denture during the healing phase and a final denture that precisely fits your mouth without having to worry about the excessive adjustments and compromise that come with an immediate denture. Our dentist near you in Lake Worth will be able to discuss with you what route is best for your specific situation.
The conventional type of denture can also be taken a step further by adding implants. These implants will help attain a more stable fit. As your Lake Worth dentist at Prestige Dental may explain, lower dentures especially greatly benefit from having implants hold them, since they tend to rock more than upper ones due to the anatomy of the lower jaw. If you are considering implants to make your denture feel more natural and stable, feel free to ask your caring dentist about the options available.
AM I THE RIGHT CANDIDATE?
Most patients with extensive tooth loss are candidates for dentures; however, a proper jaw bone structure and volume is needed to be able to wear them. There are two types of complete dentures depending on the dental status of the patient; they could either be conventional or immediate dentures.
Conventional Dentures are normally delivered to the patient about eight weeks to twelve weeks after all teeth are removed to allow for proper gum healing. Immediate Dentures; on the other hand, are delivered as soon as the teeth are removed. It is important to know that the drawback behind an immediate denture is that it may require several adjustments after healing has taken place. Alternatively, you can decide to have a combination of the above: a transitional denture can be delivered on the day the teeth are extracted and worn for 8-12 weeks and then a conventional denture made to uniquely fit all the healed tissues. This way you get the best of both worlds by having a denture during the healing phase and a final denture that precisely fits your mouth without having to worry about the excessive adjustments and compromise that come with an immediate denture. Our dentist near you in Lake Worth will be able to discuss with you what route is best for your specific situation.
The conventional type of denture can also be taken a step further by adding implants. These implants will help attain a more stable fit. As your Lake Worth dentist at Prestige Dental may explain, lower dentures especially greatly benefit from having implants hold them, since they tend to rock more than upper ones due to the anatomy of the lower jaw. If you are considering implants to make your denture feel more natural and stable, feel free to ask your caring dentist about the options available
HOW ARE DENTURES MADE?
When doing a traditional denture you would need to wait between two to three months after teeth extraction in order to allow your bone and gum tissue to grow, fill in the socket space and to completely heal. Once the gum and bony tissue has reshaped and completely healed, impressions of your oral anatomy are taken and sent to the lab in order for the lab technician to make models of your mouth. Then, the dentist and the lab technician in a series of visits, will carefully begin building your dentures on these models and transferring them to your mouth at each step to ensure an adequate fit, establish proper bite, and ensure that the esthetics of the denture are desirable. A total of four to five visits to your Lake Worth dentist near you in a span of four to five weeks will be needed in order to achieve the final product. Once the denture is given to you, occasional adjustment visits are expected for about a month after the delivery day.
When fabricating an immediate denture, the denture is ready to be delivered the same day teeth are to be extracted. In order to accomplish this, impressions of your oral anatomy and teeth are taken well in advance in order to make models of your mouth for the denture to be made. An immediate denture will NOT have the same fit a traditional denture has given that teeth are extracted on delivery day; thus, your bone and gums are not allowed to reshape and properly heal to allow for an adequate fit. Before making a final decision, talk to your dentist in Lake Worth at Prestige Dental Care to assure that you will get the results you need, whether with a combination of an immediate or conventional denture or even by adding implants for stability.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT?
Dentures need to be cleaned on a daily basis by brushing them with either a denture cleanser, or soap (toothpaste tends to be somewhat abrasive to the materials dentures are made out of, so if you can, avoid it). Failing to do this will allow for plaque and tartar to build up on your denture and for undesirable stains, odors and tastes to occur. As your Lake Worth dentist at Prestige Dental will tell you, in addition to brushing your denture, use a soft toothbrush to also brush your gums! This helps stimulate blood flow that helps keep your gums healthy and free of harmful microbes that can cause infection.
It is recommended not to wear the denture continuously but rather leave it out of the mouth during sleep. The reasoning behind this is to give the oral tissues a chance to recover and to avoid the development of fungal infection. You should leave your denture soaked in a cleanser solution overnight in a safe place. When cleaning it, keep in mind not to use any abrasive or harsh cleansers since they may scratch the denture surface. Avoid placing it in boiling water to disinfect it because this may cause distortion of the appliance. Don’t forget to always handle your denture with care. At the final appointment of your denture process, your dentist in Lake Worth at PDC will give you detailed instructions about how to take care of your dentures so they serve you well for a long time.
SHOULD I CONTINUE SEEING MY DENTIST ON A REGULAR BASIS?:
Yes. Continuing with your regular check ups is fundamental. As you age, the anatomy under your denture will change due to bone shrinkage. To maintain a proper denture fit overtime, the inside of your denture may need to be relined and in some cases, a new denture may be needed. Regular visits to your dentist are also important for your dentist to check for signs of disease or cancer in the oral cavity.
If you are considering dentures with a trustworthy dentist near you, call us today at (561) 965-3933 or click below for a consultation.